August 31, 2006

BLACKSBURG, Va. - The 2006 Virginia Tech cross country season will get underway Friday evening when both the men's and women's teams compete at the Wake Forest Relays in Winston-Salem, N.C. In addition to the host Demon Deacons, the Hokies will also be running against Duke and High Point.

The race will be run in relay format, which is quite different from a typical meet. The four schools will be broken into two-person teams, with only the top-3 finishing pairs from each school counting in the final scoring. For the men's race at 5 p.m., each pair must complete four loops of the 2.5-mile course in alternating fashion (two loops per person). The women's race begins at 6 p.m. and features a 2.5-kilometer course.

WOMEN'S OUTLOOK

The women finished ninth in the Atlantic Coast Conference last season, although they did so without 2004 All-ACC and All-Southeast Region competitor Jessica Fanning, who was granted a medical redshirt after competing in only two meets. She returns to a group that includes sophomore Tasmin Fanning, who earned All-Southeast Region honors for her 22^nd-place finish last year, junior leader Natalie Sherbak, sophomore Nicole Pederson and a solid crew of newcomers. The rookie class of Kelly Clark, Ashley Morganstern and Fiona Gentles could help vault the team into the upper half of the ACC.

Sherbak was one of the most consistent runners on the team in 2005, totaling three top-five finishes. She was the second Hokie to finish at the regional meet and the third at the conference competition.

"Natalie is a leader and pretty much the captain of the team," Thomas said. "She has the most experience as far as being in championship races. She had a strong finish last year and we feel there is a lot more to come."

In addition to the Fanning sisters, who are both sophomores due to Jessica's redshirt season, seniors Jenn Dietz and Samantha Ference, as well as sophomores Pederson and Erin Reddan, will also help create a solid nucleus for the Hokies. Pederson and Reddan shared the coaches' award after impressive rookie campaigns. The duo combined for five top-10 finishes and six top-15 accomplishments. Tasmin Fanning, the team's MVP, won her first two collegiate races and was Tech's top finisher in each of the five meets in which she ran.

"The Fanning sisters were both all-region runners," Thomas said. "Erin and Nicole will again be huge contributors to the team. They will support, or be in, the top seven. With everyone's help and a deep group, the chances are very good that we can make NCAAs as a team, which is one of our main goals."

With so many talented people returning, the freshmen will have time to adjust to the rigorous demands of collegiate cross country. Clark, Morganstern and Gentles should challenge Tech's experienced runners throughout the season, while other key freshmen contributors will include Samantha DeAlto, Lisa MacPherson and Jamie Nichols. All the freshmen will help push the upperclassmen and could score at any meet.

"Kelly Clark can come in and be part of a solid supporting cast," Thomas said. "As a whole, most of the freshmen have been mid-distance runners, but they have come from successful high school teams. They know what it will take in order to be good and they could develop right away."

MEN'S OUTLOOK

The men's team took home a sixth-place finish at the ACC Championships and a 13^th-place finish at the NCAA Southeast Regional Championships in 2005, and is looking to improve upon both with nearly everybody returning this season.

Despite the loss of senior team MVP David Atkiss, the team should be a force to be reckoned with in the ACC in 2006.

With only one senior, Christian Barlow, the team has several juniors and sophomores that will be the core of the team. Four juniors and seven sophomores will be looked upon to help the team improve and give the first-year runners a solid foundation on which to build.

"We are counting on Christian for leadership this year," Thomas said. "We hope he steps up his performance and becomes a solid leader."

Junior Rider Clauss, had three top-15 finishes last fall and is coming off a stellar outdoor track season that saw him qualify for regionals in the steeplechase. Coaches' award-winner and junior Andrew Montgomery had a standout season in 2005 to go along with a superb indoor season before redshirting during the outdoor season. Junior James Scheiner and sophomore Zach Thomas will also be in the mix this season.

"Last year, Andrew was a very dependable No. 2 runner," Thomas said. "With our upperclassmen, we are hoping they continue to run in a tight pack."

Sophomores Paul LaPenna , Chris Padilla, Phillip Padilla and Jason Vick all helped the 2005 team and will once again challenge one another to earn points in every race this season. The five combined for 10 top-20 finishes during their rookie year. Billy Berlin finished 10^th in his only race in 2005, while fellow sophomore Ian Shreckengast could also be a key contributor again in 2006. Bryan McVey will also help push his teammates along.

"Billy was a good contributor last year," Thomas said. "He's very talented and could be one of our best runners. Jason had a good freshman year and is very dependable. He and Ian are solid contributors. The Padilla brothers are very dependable athletes. They form a solid support cast and gained a lot of experience from last season."

Highly touted freshman Devin Cornwall could put together a solid season with the help of his teammates. Cornwall has the ability to perform at a high level and could make his collegiate debut an extremely successful one.

"Devin is one of the best cross country runners in the state," Thomas said. "He has the potential to do good things right away and could be in the top seven."